Hambledon Parish Council held its AGM at its first monthly meeting since the local government elections.
Stewart Payne was re-elected chairman and Alison Scott-Bishop has become deputy, replacing Mary Grove who stood down at the election.
Two new parish councillors, Andy Hinde and Simon Rhodes, were welcomed. In effect, they replace Mary and Philip Underwood, who also stood down after a long service to the council. With five previous councillors standing again together with the two new candidates, the election for the seven available places was uncontested.
The meeting also welcomed the three Waverley Borough Council Ward members elected for the Bramley and Wonersh Ward, which includes Hambledon. This is a new Ward created by the recent Local Government Boundary Review which was tasked with reducing the number of Waverley Wards from 57 to 50.
Hambledon’s new Ward councillors are Lauren Atkins, Jane Austin and Michael Goodridge. All three were elected at the May 4th poll and Lauren and Michael attended the parish meeting. Lauren will have Ward responsibility for Hambledon but all three have said they will try to attend Hambledon Parish Council meetings and have spoken highly of what they see as an active and involved community.
The three were elected on behalf of the Conservative Party. Hambledon Parish councillors, however, do not represent any political affiliation and remain apolitical in all matters.
Lauren and Jane are new to Waverley council. Michael was first elected in 1987 and until boundary changes represented Wonersh and Blackheath, now part of the Bramley and Wonersh Ward.
There were no County Council elections and Kevin Deanus remains the Surrey CC Ward councillor for the Hambledon area. He was also in attendance.
Stewart Payne said that the parish council was always grateful of the active participation of its Ward Borough and County councillors and its members looked forward to a constructive relationship.
Waverley Council remains under no overall party control. The Liberal Democrats made significant gains at the May election, holding 22 seats, followed by Farnham Residents with 13, Conservatives with 10, two each for Labour and Independent and one Green.
Details of the new Borough council members can be found at: https://modgov.waverley.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1
Updated contact details for Hambledon Parish councillors and clerk, together with Borough and County Ward councillors can be found on this website at http://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?page_id=26